A delegation led by Chinese Vice Minister of the International Department of the Committee of the Communist Party, Chen Fengxiang discussed the upcoming visit of Xi with Pakistan government officials, according to an official here.The delegation had also met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other senior government officials.

The official said that the two sides are hoping for the visit to take place in February. Sharif told the delegation that Pakistan was eagerly looking forward to welcome the Chinese President.

Xi, also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party, had refused to travel to Islamabad in September due to anti-government protests by opposition leader Imran Khan and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri, demanding Sharif's resignation over alleged rigging in 2013 elections.

The Chinese President had visited Maldives, Sri Lanka and India in September. During Xi's visit, the two countries are expected to kick-start work on the multi-billion dollars Pak-China Economic Corridor project which will link China's western Xiangiang autonomous region with Pakistan's Gawadar port on the Arabian Sea.The project is aimed at building roads and rail network through some of the most difficult terrain.